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Anti-E.U. Party in Britain Strives for Wider Clout Anti-E.U. Party in Britain Strives for Wider Clout
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LONDON — Last month the brash, populist U.K. Independence Party won its first seat in Parliament, capitalizing on resentment against immigration, disenchantment with the European Union and a general disaffection with politicians.LONDON — Last month the brash, populist U.K. Independence Party won its first seat in Parliament, capitalizing on resentment against immigration, disenchantment with the European Union and a general disaffection with politicians.
On Thursday, the party has a good chance to pick up a second seat, an outcome that would send further shudders through the governing Conservatives, who fear they could lose crucial support on the nationalist right in next year’s general election. On Thursday, it has a good chance to pick up a second seat, an outcome that would send further shudders through the governing Conservatives, who fear they could lose crucial support on the nationalist right in next year’s general election.
But even as it finds success, the party is being more or less disowned by its founder, Alan Sked, a history professor who started the party in the 1990s. But even as it finds success, the party is being more or less disowned by its founder, Alan Sked, a history professor who started it in the 1990s.
Mr. Sked said he was happy that the party was still promoting his original objective of British withdrawal from the European Union.Mr. Sked said he was happy that the party was still promoting his original objective of British withdrawal from the European Union.
Yet Mr. Sked, who teaches at the London School of Economics and Political Science, expressed disdain for the party’s recent anti-immigration focus. He said the party he created had “grown into this hideous, racist, populist, xenophobic, Islamophobic thing.”Yet Mr. Sked, who teaches at the London School of Economics and Political Science, expressed disdain for the party’s recent anti-immigration focus. He said the party he created had “grown into this hideous, racist, populist, xenophobic, Islamophobic thing.”
His successors in the leadership deny the accusations of racism and xenophobia, but his criticisms speak to the biggest question facing the party: whether it can overcome its status as an angry, fringe protest movement to become a credible threat to Britain’s three main parties and potentially play a role in deciding the next government.His successors in the leadership deny the accusations of racism and xenophobia, but his criticisms speak to the biggest question facing the party: whether it can overcome its status as an angry, fringe protest movement to become a credible threat to Britain’s three main parties and potentially play a role in deciding the next government.
The party now claims more than 40,000 members, and many think it could win enough votes in May’s general election to affect the outcome. At the least, it is already forcing the Conservatives under Prime Minister David Cameron to take a harder line against the European Union, though it has also shown some appeal to traditional Labour Party voters on the left who are attracted to its anti-elitist message. The party now claims more than 40,000 members, and many think it could win enough votes in a general election, which is widely expected in May, to affect the outcome. At the least, it is already forcing the Conservatives under Prime Minister David Cameron to take a harder line against the European Union, though it has also shown some appeal to traditional Labour Party voters on the left who are attracted to its anti-elitist message.
Under its current leader, Nigel Farage, the Independence Party has traveled a long way since Mr. Sked conceived it as an intellectual counterblast to European integration.Under its current leader, Nigel Farage, the Independence Party has traveled a long way since Mr. Sked conceived it as an intellectual counterblast to European integration.
According to Tim Bale, professor of politics at Queen Mary, University of London, dislike of the European Union stirs relatively few voters, so the party has “moved towards an anti-immigration — some would say slightly xenophobic — appeal for which there is a bigger market.”According to Tim Bale, professor of politics at Queen Mary, University of London, dislike of the European Union stirs relatively few voters, so the party has “moved towards an anti-immigration — some would say slightly xenophobic — appeal for which there is a bigger market.”
Mr. Farage puts it differently, although he is frank about the transformation of a party once rooted in southern England with strong support among former military personnel.Mr. Farage puts it differently, although he is frank about the transformation of a party once rooted in southern England with strong support among former military personnel.
“I love retired half-colonels who were brave on D-Day,” Mr. Farage told an interviewer this year. “They are magnificent people, and thank God for them — but they are few in number now. They made up the backbone of our support when we were a 2 percent party, and without them, we wouldn’t have got off the ground. There is no point hiding that — that’s where UKIP started.” “I love retired half-colonels who were brave on D-Day,” Mr. Farage said this year. “They are magnificent people, and thank God for them — but they are few in number now. They made up the backbone of our support when we were a 2 percent party, and without them, we wouldn’t have got off the ground. There is no point hiding that — that’s where UKIP started.”
Support now comes in areas with “ordinary people who get up at 6 in the morning, commute to work, pay their mortgages and do their best to bring their kids up,” he added.Support now comes in areas with “ordinary people who get up at 6 in the morning, commute to work, pay their mortgages and do their best to bring their kids up,” he added.
Across Europe, anti-European Union and populist parties are on the rise. Another growing party in Europe, Alternative for Germany, was formed last year by economics professors opposed to German membership in the eurozone. Across Europe, anti-European Union and populist parties are on the rise. A growing party on the Continent, Alternative for Germany, was formed last year by economists opposed to German membership in the eurozone.
Mr. Sked first named his party the Anti-Federalist League, after a group of 19th-century free-traders opposed to restrictions known as the Corn Laws. In 1993, the name was changed to the U.K. Independence Party.Mr. Sked first named his party the Anti-Federalist League, after a group of 19th-century free-traders opposed to restrictions known as the Corn Laws. In 1993, the name was changed to the U.K. Independence Party.
It was then competing with the better-financed Referendum Party, and in the 1997 general election, the Independence Party won 0.3 percent of the vote. After a power struggle, Mr. Sked quit.It was then competing with the better-financed Referendum Party, and in the 1997 general election, the Independence Party won 0.3 percent of the vote. After a power struggle, Mr. Sked quit.
The party was probably saved by the European Union. The bloc forced Britain to adopt more proportional voting in elections for the European Parliament, unlike the winner-take-all system used for the British Parliament, which can squeeze out small parties.The party was probably saved by the European Union. The bloc forced Britain to adopt more proportional voting in elections for the European Parliament, unlike the winner-take-all system used for the British Parliament, which can squeeze out small parties.
In 1999, the party won three European Parliament seats, including one for Mr. Farage, once a Sked ally in the Anti-Federalist League but now an adversary. A former commodity trader, Mr. Farage presents himself as a straight talker in touch with the public and is often photographed holding a pint of beer.In 1999, the party won three European Parliament seats, including one for Mr. Farage, once a Sked ally in the Anti-Federalist League but now an adversary. A former commodity trader, Mr. Farage presents himself as a straight talker in touch with the public and is often photographed holding a pint of beer.
For most of the next decade, the party oscillated between progress and self-parody as it reveled in a rejection of political correctness.For most of the next decade, the party oscillated between progress and self-parody as it reveled in a rejection of political correctness.
In 2004, it scored a coup by recruiting a talk-show host, Robert Kilroy-Silk. But his arrival at the European Parliament was overshadowed when Godfrey Bloom, another party deputy, jokingly complained that women “don’t clean behind the fridge enough.” (Mr. Bloom later resigned from the party after using a vulgar slur to describe female activists.) In 2004, it scored a coup by recruiting a talk-show host, Robert Kilroy-Silk. But his arrival at the European Parliament was overshadowed when Godfrey Bloom, another party deputy, jokingly complained that women “don’t clean behind the fridge enough.” (Mr. Bloom later resigned from the party after using a slur to describe female activists.)
The party sometimes seemed more interested in enjoying itself than in changing politics and held alcohol-fueled dinners in the basement of restaurant in Strasbourg, France, the seat of Parliament, under the name the “gadfly club.” The party sometimes seemed more interested in enjoying itself than in changing politics and held alcohol-fueled dinners in the basement of a restaurant in Strasbourg, France, the seat of Parliament, under the name the “gadfly club.”
It lived happily off the generous allowances for members of the European Parliament. One of its former deputies there was convicted on charges of expenses fraud, another for making false welfare claims. Critics, including Mr. Sked, have accused the party of hypocrisy for accepting European Union money.It lived happily off the generous allowances for members of the European Parliament. One of its former deputies there was convicted on charges of expenses fraud, another for making false welfare claims. Critics, including Mr. Sked, have accused the party of hypocrisy for accepting European Union money.
The party recently accepted a far-right representative of a Polish party into its parliamentary group to comply with rules that keep the money flowing. Mr. Farage employs his German-born wife as his assistant and has acknowledged expense and allowance claims of some 2 million pounds since his election to the Parliament in 1999.The party recently accepted a far-right representative of a Polish party into its parliamentary group to comply with rules that keep the money flowing. Mr. Farage employs his German-born wife as his assistant and has acknowledged expense and allowance claims of some 2 million pounds since his election to the Parliament in 1999.
In 2005, Mr. Kilroy-Silk quit, accusing the party’s European lawmakers of “sitting on their backsides.” And in 2006, Mr. Cameron, then still four years from becoming prime minister, dismissed party members as mainly “fruitcakes and loonies and closet racists.”In 2005, Mr. Kilroy-Silk quit, accusing the party’s European lawmakers of “sitting on their backsides.” And in 2006, Mr. Cameron, then still four years from becoming prime minister, dismissed party members as mainly “fruitcakes and loonies and closet racists.”
In 2006, Mr. Farage was elected leader, and in the 2009 European elections, the Independence Party won 13 seats with 16.5 percent of the vote.In 2006, Mr. Farage was elected leader, and in the 2009 European elections, the Independence Party won 13 seats with 16.5 percent of the vote.
In 2009, Mr. Farage relinquished the leadership to run for the British Parliament. His 2010 campaign was futile, and he nearly died in a light-aircraft crash on the day of the election. In 2009, Mr. Farage relinquished his party post to run for the British Parliament. His 2010 campaign was futile, and he nearly died in a light-aircraft crash on the day of the vote.
Later re-elected party leader, Mr. Farage honed his polemical style and the same year told the president of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, that he had “the charisma of a damp rag and the appearance of a low-grade bank clerk.” After returning to the party leadership, Mr. Farage honed his polemical style. That year, he told the president of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, that he had “the charisma of a damp rag and the appearance of a low-grade bank clerk.”
At the same time, Mr. Farage put immigration at the center of the agenda. He makes the case that as a member of the European Union, which permits free movement of citizens and labor between member countries, Britain cannot control its borders.At the same time, Mr. Farage put immigration at the center of the agenda. He makes the case that as a member of the European Union, which permits free movement of citizens and labor between member countries, Britain cannot control its borders.
Mr. Sked attributes the party’s recent success to the unpopular austerity policies of Britain’s government and the fact that the centrist Liberal Democrats — once the recipient of many protest votes — govern in coalition with the Conservatives. He says the party is ideologically incoherent but acknowledges its success in presenting itself as an anti-establishment party of protest.Mr. Sked attributes the party’s recent success to the unpopular austerity policies of Britain’s government and the fact that the centrist Liberal Democrats — once the recipient of many protest votes — govern in coalition with the Conservatives. He says the party is ideologically incoherent but acknowledges its success in presenting itself as an anti-establishment party of protest.
Mr. Bale said the party had shown the “ability to morph and to pick and choose its issues.” Mr. Bale said it had shown the “ability to morph and to pick and choose its issues.”
But he said that may cease to be an advantage. “Once you start getting anywhere near Parliament or government, people start to take you more seriously, ask you harder questions and expect you to be able to answer them,” he said.But he said that may cease to be an advantage. “Once you start getting anywhere near Parliament or government, people start to take you more seriously, ask you harder questions and expect you to be able to answer them,” he said.